How To Level Solid Hardwood Floor
With four basic types of installation available it s important to choose the one that makes the most sense for your lifestyle and budget.
How to level solid hardwood floor. Species wood species vary in hardness and light sensitivity so keep foot traffic furniture and light exposure in mind when choosing a species. Learn how to install solid hardwood flooring with a few simple tools. Wood floor installation requires a level subfloor and that your hardwood flooring is acclimated to the room s humidity and temperature according to the manufacturer s guidelines. For instance solid hardwood flooring is typically nailed down during installation while tongue and groove engineered flooring is usually clicked together or completely glued down.
Whether you re going on to install hardwood ceramic tile or laminate one of the most important steps of any flooring project is making sure the subfloor foundation is level. Hardwood floors are durable beautiful and a great diy project. But not to worry if your subfloor is less than perfect. What s worse is if boards start to stick up buckle or warp.
What good is a beautiful and expensive hardwood floor if it squeaks and creaks when you walk on it. Hardwood floor installers often use the term level when referring to subfloors when actually they are meaning the term flat while it s desirable to have a level floor most homes. To learn how to do this watch prepping plywood subfloors. Solid hardwood flooring solid wood planks are milled from a single piece of hardwood and covered with a thin clear protective layer that often consists of aluminum oxide ceramic or an acrylic.
You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings. A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too. A solid hardwood floor is only as good as the installation. Solid hardwood flooring should only be installed on grade and above while engineered hardwood works on any level.